WASHINGTON — As the National Anthem rang out Friday across the National Mall at the 2026 March for Life, a choir from Friends of Club 21 stood before thousands of marchers and offered a witness that went beyond music. Made up of individuals with Down syndrome, ranging in age from 13 to 42, the choir’s performance drew cheers from the crowd and set the tone for a day dedicated to the dignity of every human life.

The choir performed a piece they had spent weeks preparing, their voices rising confidently before a crowd gathered to advocate for the unborn. For the performers, the moment marked both a celebration of their hard work and a powerful opportunity to be seen and heard.

Their performance was more than musical; it was a joyful testimony to life, ability and the unique gifts each individual brings to the world. 

“It’s really exciting,” one of the performers, Garrett Colmer, told the Register. “We love being here.” He said he was looking forward to touring the Washington Monument and singing with the choir again Friday evening at the Rose Dinner Gala.

Friends of Club 21 — based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and led by Executive Director Jared Anderson — was founded in 2014 as an extension of Club 21, a South African school that provides education, therapy and creative outlets for children with Down syndrome. The organization’s earliest event, in Colorado, was a simple Christmas pageant designed to raise awareness and support for the school overseas.  

Anderson recalled that first performance clearly. “We performed together, and it was such a meaningful time,” he told the Register. “We came back wondering how we could tell that story more fully. That’s when we decided to start Friends of Club 21 — and that was 11 years ago.”

After that performance, more families wanted to participate, and students wanted more opportunities to perform and develop their talents.

“At first, it was just the families who wanted to participate in the Christmas show. Over time, it grew and grew,” Anderson added.

A Place to Shine

As the organization expanded, the choir became a central feature of Friends of Club 21, offering students with Down syndrome the chance to rehearse, perform and build confidence throughout the year. 

“These performances were highlights for the students,” Anderson said. “Many have been on the sidelines in life, but this was their moment to shine.”

The choir’s development also reflects the broader mission of Friends of Club 21. In addition to music, the organization launched an Arts Academy to provide students with ongoing creative formation and a sense of purpose rooted in community. 

“We started planning the [Christmas] show year-round,” Anderson explained. “Then we launched the choir and Arts Academy to give students a platform to perform. It was about creating a rhythm — practice, build, perform — that strengthened this community.”

Beyond the students themselves, the choir has had a noticeable effect on audiences. Anderson has seen attitudes shift as people encounter the joy and confidence of the performers, especially in the organization’s annual Christmas show.

“At some of our first shows, people didn’t know how to respond. Over the years, however, I saw audiences change,” Anderson said. “Walls came down. People realized they just wanted to cheer the choir on. There was a recognition of their gifts, their joy, their life.”

Performing at the March for Life offers a particularly meaningful opportunity to share that witness. 

“The students understood that they were being seen,” Anderson said. “For many, it changed their lives.”

 

Building Community and Hope

Anderson also shared moments that highlight the deeper impact of Friends of Club 21 on students and their families.

“This year, we highlighted Chandler, who is 27, and his relationship with Cory, another young woman with Down syndrome,” he said. “They’ve been together for several years. Their families saw the beauty in their love and commitment, and it was remarkable to witness.”

Through the choir and Arts Academy, students develop collaboration, confidence and public presentation skills, but just as importantly, they experience belonging. 

“The community really focuses on the individual,” Anderson said. “You can feel the family bonds and support. It shapes each person in a unique way.”

Friends of Club 21 also serves as a source of encouragement for families facing a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis — often a moment marked by fear and uncertainty. 

“I’ve had parents tell me, ‘This is the club I never thought I wanted to be a part of,’” Anderson recalled. “There was fear at first. But once they joined, they realized that life looked different than they imagined — and they wouldn’t change it for the world. It’s a different journey, but still a journey of a lifetime.”

From its beginnings as a small holiday pageant to performances on a national stage, Friends of Club 21 continues to empower students with Down syndrome through music, arts and community. 

“There’s so much fear at the start about what the future will hold,” Anderson said. “But being part of this choir and group shows families and students the value of every life. That’s what we get to share every time we perform.”

Friday’s performance marked a new milestone for choir members and their families.

Jeanne Chicon, whose daughter Nicole is a member of the choir, said she had tears in her eyes watching the group at its sound check before their performance.

“They’re just such a beautiful gift from God,” she said. “Each of them is so special and gives so much of themselves — and has such a strong appreciation of life.”

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